Replaced a light fixture yesterday. For the hell of it decided to use my inductance tester at the bulb sockets. With the switch off, it still had current at the sockets. This fixture is at the end of the line. It goes power cable to switch, then cable to light. Nothing after that.

Would this be an indication of a switched neutral or am I missing something? I looked in the switch box and it appears to be wired correctly. White wires tied together, black wires to the switch terminals......

Very common a big misconception with deadly results. "If the light is off no power there." A very standard configuration is power to the light then a switch leg to the switch. Also a three way light may always have power in the box depending on switch layout. That is why when DYIs want to add a receptacle next to a switch it does not work. No neutral only power in and out. ALWAYS turn of the breaker or pull fuse before working on any circuit.

From your description it sounds like the hot and neutral may be reversed. If it was a non contact tester it may be phantom voltage.

If you unhook feed in switch box then test to see if power is on the black not white. Turn of breaker when unhooking.

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"I have studied many philosophers and many cats. The wisdom of cats is infinitely superior." - Hippolyte Taine

In this case it's power to the switch box, then the light(bedroom light). Just one cable into the light box. It seemed as though the "shell" of the light sockets were hot and the center terminal was not. But like you said, with a non-contact tester, it can be hard to tell for sure whats going on.

"Upstream" of this switch is a closet light, then it's switch, then a junction box. Or something close to that order(junction IS at the beginning, though) Guess I have some trouble shooting to do. I was just in the junction the other day and it is wired correctly so perhaps something is reversed in the closet light or switch. I will do the test you suggested on the original switch first. Thanks.

TJ, it is possible there is a switched neutral but a noncontact can give a false reading sometimes. Do some checking to make sure that the shell of the screw in part is not connected to the line or Black wire. Although it does sound like the neutral to the light is switched which is not the correct way to do it.

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Rule of thumb,Keep your thumb from under the hammer!

It soundfs like it's wired the way it "used " to be done...hot at the light not in the switch box...actually I prefer not having my switches hot...but that's me. They changed that around not that many years ago (here) because people seem to think there was no current at the light just because it was turned off...sound familiar ?? ALWAYS shut off the breaker regardless...then use a tester just to be %100 certain. I suspect the whole house has been wired the same way at one time...did you check other switches/ fixtures ?

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Dennis
Just another trouble making Canadian....

Quote:It soundfs like it's wired the way it "used " to be done...hot at the light not in the switch box...actually I prefer not having my switches hot...but that's me. They changed that around not that many years ago (here) because people seem to think there was no current at the light just because it was turned off...sound familiar ?? ALWAYS shut off the breaker regardless...then use a tester just to be %100 certain. I suspect the whole house has been wired the same way at one time...did you check other switches/ fixtures ?

There is no "used to be" about it. It is still a common way to wire a switch. Power at switch or power at light are very common ways. Neither is right or wrong. It just depends if the power source is closer to the switch or the light.

It could have been a false reading of hot. Those tick tester are not 100% correct 100% of the time.

Quote:There is no "used to be" about it. It is still a common way to wire a switch. Power at switch or power at light are very common

First thing...please understand that I don't wish to argue your point ...

It wasn't that long ago that I posted a thread here refering to this same thing and I was severely slammed because I was running my hot wire to the box and switching the neutrals...which was a common practice in N.B.and Quebec several years ago...I may be wrong but from what I can tell TJ is experiencing the same thing that would occur as a result of this wiring method. I since spoke with a contractor that told me that all hot (in this area) must be run into the switch box ...and switched on the hot side...perhaps he just said that because it's a safe bet and there are times that a lot can be run and dropped to the switch...I won't pretend to know...lol

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Dennis
Just another trouble making Canadian....